Web feeding mechanisms

ABSTRACT

A web is fed from a reel located on a table about a dancing roller which varies position with tension on the web. The reel is supported on a cushion of air passed through a plurality of ball bearing spring loaded normally closed nozzles on the table. The air pressure is controlled by a butterfly valve operated by the dancing roller to vary the air pressure and, therefore, the air cushion support as a function of the tension on the web.

United States Patent Inventor Denk E. E. French 74 Ennkdale Drive. West Kirby, Wirral, Cheshire, England Appl. No. 865,549 Filed Oct. 13. 1969 Patented Aug. 3, 197 1 Priority Oct. 19, 1968 Great Britain 4851 1/68 WEB FEEDING MECHANISMS 10 China, 15 Drawing Fis. I

1.1.8. Cl. 242/7543, 242/75.46 Int. Cl. B651: 75/22, B65h 23/10, B65h 23/24 Field ol Search 242/75.42,

[56] Reterences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,346,209 10/1967 Cronin 242/66 3,497,151 2/1970 Voss et a1. 242/66 3,515,183 6/1970 Voss 242/66 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,047,001 12/1958 Germany 242/66 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Assistant Examiner-Gregory A. Walters Attorney Lawrence R. Brown ABSTRACT: A web is fed from a reel located on a table about a dancing roller which varies position with tension on the web The reel is supported on a cushion of air passed through a plurality of ballbearing spring loaded normally closed nozzles on the table. The air pressure is controlled by a butterfly valve operated by the dancing roller to vary the air pressure and, therefore, the air cushion support as a function of the tension on the web.

SHEEI 2 0F 8 PATENTED ms 3 IQTI Fig.2.

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PATENTEU AUG 3 I97! SHEEIBUFB .l I i I l l l Fig.3.

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SHEET 8 [1F 8 Fig.14.

WEBFEEDING devices including web tension controldeviees'to a-rprinting:

cylinder. The web tension control devices control the feeding of the paper web so that-the web is fed atthe desiredtension and in the requiredregister to .the printingcylinder. Alternately it may be that the web is fed from a reel through processing devices, for exampleto perforate the-web :wit'h marginal feed I apertures and with cross-perforations; Therpresent'devices for ensuring that the paper web is fed in the required manner-from the reel are somewhat complex. It isnn objectiofthe present invention to providean improvedrmeanswherebydhe paper web can be fed from thereel'in a-simple ad -convenient manner. 4

According to the present invention web feeding mechanism includes a table to support a paper web reel on itsside and including means to provide a cushion of thong porting table and the underside of "the reel on its side, a dancing rolleror the like around which .is fed, and an air supply .valve motivated by the of ing roller or the like to control the-apassage-ofair from: pressure supply to the means toprovidetheeushionofaic the supporting tableand the paperwzsbreels Web feeding'mechanisms in aceoeflancewiththepresent-invention will now be described ofesample withreference to the accompanyingdrawings wherein FIG. 1 is a diagrammaticside view o'f'a reel table FIG. 2 is anzenlarged viewof-part offifi. l FIG. 3 is a plan view corresponding 10536-2;

FlGSA-and are detailedwiewsfslalveanechanisnr-onithev of the tension-.2 control mechanisms for example a printing'gpres -.-inch ding.=infeedprinting rollers to receive a continuous paper iwebi2 which;

web-is fedfrom a reel 3 placedionits-end 'ona table-4.

The 'web is fed 110 the proceuing mechan'mn =1.- processed into a continuous business-forms web; .Thecontinuous paper web reel 3 rests on its sidgit'hat is tossay it rests on one of its flat-circular ends-with =the asis oftherreeli disposed 1 vertically. In the rest position the-ree'l.3"lies-omitssnpporting table 4 and the reel ispositioned between :twoaverti? cally movable locatingcenters5.?lheiowenlocatingcenter5a (FIG. 2) is moved .by an-aircylinder-rhechan'nm ficzupwardly seatings 9 and permit the air under pressure to pass between the seating! and the balls I through the nozzles 6.

A pipe or pipes 10 isprovided beneath each of the nozzles and these pipesare connectedto a source 11 of air to supply the air underpressure behind thenozzles.

The males are as shown in FIG. 3"ar'r'anged in a symmetrical patternon the table 4 in straight lines extending radially outwards fromthe center of the table, that is to say from the position of the vertically movable locating centers" 5. The pipeslfl areconnected to the-air supply LL'Which-may be a centrifugal pump, through abutterfly control valve 12 (FIG.

l). The butterfly control vaive 12 is mechanically connected as by a lever l2a'to a dancing'roller mechanism 13 around which the web passes between the'reel Sand the processing mechanism 1. The dancing roller mechanism accommodates forchanges in tension of the web passing from the reel 3 to the printing press 1' and the position of the dancing roller mechanism l3'is used .to control the supply of pressure air to the nozzles .610 control the amount of air passing from the jet nozzles.

The web in being fed from the reel 3 is passed over adjusta- I where :it overlies :a nozzle -:willcause such nozzle to depress the into contact with the tubular centetyofthe reehat and a second or upperlocating centeribiszurged-downwardiy' by an air cylinder mechanism :5d .intojcontactwithtthe upper end of the tubular center of the-reel .3. These taincylinder mechanismsSc, fid are connected to .5 sourceflBbfairaunder pressure through a control valve JQJTherreelS operative issupported above the-table 4 :by a cushion-.ofair which locates the reels short distance aboseztheitablef lhecushion of a'iris provided by air being pamed through-a plurality-of small-nozzles6 in thelupper surface. of the tableJEaeh ofathese nozzles :6 includes a ball 7 which nprmallyismrgedupwardly by a spring! .into contact with a seating 9 rand whosempper end \extends above theltop surface of the table?! {-FIG. 4:): whens reel3 is loadedon totthe tableaabove oneofihesernozilesthereelrests on the balls '7 to'lower'themagaimtttheaaction of the corresponding springs ljinto line withrthe atop surface of-theatable 4 and thereby tmmoueithemaway fromtheir ball! to open :the noule 6 and air under pressure will pass through the noules to provide a cushion of air between the nozzles and aheundersideaofthe reeL' The reel is locatedin position by moving the locating centerstowardszeach-otheriThe webTisloaded around the dancing roller mechanism 13 m .the:printing;press and around the platecylinder etc. to the-output of the printing press. When the printing press isctartedup air under pressure is passed "through the pipes ill-to the nozzles 6 through the butterfly valve l2and2thus'air passes through the nozzles .6 beneath the reel .3 to provide a-cus'hion of air between-the etopfsurface and the underside ofthe-reel. This cushionofair enables the web to "be unwound from the 'reelus'inga minimum amount of frictioncShould -the tens'ion in the :paper web become too lowthe dancingroller falls andthis variation will affect the movement of-the butterfly valvcto'reduce thesupply of air to'the nozzles .6 and this, in turn, reduces the air cushion supporting the paper awebreel. The red then tends to {fall back on the supportingtable friction between *the reel and table is increased and the rate ofiunwind of the-reel isthere'by automatically reduced.

on the other hand if the :tension -of the web becomes too high the dancing roller rises .and this movement-will be transferred to :thebutterfly :valveto open :thisvalve to increase the supply of airsto1thenozzles 6 and the pressure of airin the air cushion aendsto be increased. The friction between the reel .and'the table -is=thereby reduced .and the reel runs more easily sothat the tension'in theweb is reduced.

ltzwill beaapparent that as-the web isaunwound from the reel- 3 the weight and thediameter of the web on the reelwill each be:reduced. 'Asthe diameter'of the web is reduced the reel no ilongercoverstheiouter nozzles and consequently the'balls-will i'bodied in ea printing machine emp'loyinga plurality of paper web reels :fromnvhich a web-:isunwound from each reelatthe same time. ln such a caseeach reel may bcsupported on a separate'table'with therreels placed side .by side as shown in FlGS."9. or'-l0 or,:alternatively,the reels may be placed on-sup- {porting tables -.oneontop of the other asxshown in FIG. 7.. in

under pressure. These nozzles 6 provide a cushion of air on which the reels can easily be transported from a loading position to the table from which the web is unwound- As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 the conveyor reels are each unwound from a respective table 4. The tables 4 are placed one above the other. An adjacent supporting conveyor surface 15 having a plurality of nozzles 6 similar to those shown in FIGS. 4 and is supplied with air under pressure to the nozzles. There is also a vertically movable platform 16 used for example with lift truck mechanism to load a reel on to one of the conveyor surfaces 15.

The conveyor surface 16 may, as shown in full lines in'FIG. 8 be located at one side of the supporting table 4 or may, as shown in dotted lines be in line with the supporting table 4.

As shown in FIG. 9 a plurality of supporting tables 4 are provided side by side at the same vertical height in a line and two conveyor surfaces 15 are provided at one side of the sup porting tables and two are provided at opposite ends of the line of supporting tables 4.

FIG. 10 shows a similar arrangement to FIG. 9 except that the conveyor surfaces are shown at the sides of the supporting tables.

It will be appreciated that the conveyor surfaces can be utilized as storage surfaces for reels prior to use, in which case the air supply can be turned off when the reel is not required to be moved. Referring to FIG. 11 being a similar view to FIG. 2 there is shown a further embodiment having a modified means to provide a cushion of air between the supporting table and the underside of the paper web reel. This embodiment is particularly suitable when a single paper reel is to be processed. As shown a recess is provided centrally of the mechanism and a bearing 21 is centrally located in the recess. A spindle 22 having an end part 23 of small diameter compared to the remainder of the spindle and the end part having a tapered end fits in the recess 20. When a paper reel is to be located the reel is maneuvered to a position centrally of the mechanism and the spindle is entered through the reel tapered end first into the bearing. v

Referring to FIG. 12 there is shown an embodiment particularly useful in cases where the supporting tables 4 are located one above the other. In this case each supporting table has a central recess 20 and an ejector piston 24 is mounted in this recess 20 and a pair of ports 25 communicate with the recess. Air under pressure may be supplied through one port and vacuum may be supplied through the other port. A spindle 21 with bearings 22 fits into the center of the paper reel and is movable axially as well as rotatably in the reel. When a paper reel is to be located on the table 4 the spindle is inserted through the center of the reel and the reel is moved over the table 4 until the spindle drops into the recess (the ejector piston having been moved downwardly by supplying vacuum to the lowerside of the piston through the port 25) The paper reel is then located imposition and the paper web is unwound for processing. When the reel is exhausted pressure air is supplied to the lowerside of the piston 24 to raise the piston and the spindle 21. The reel isthen slid off the table 4. A stop (not shown) limits the movement of the piston 24 so that it will not rise above the level of the table 4.

FIG. 13 shows a mechanism similar to FIG. 11 but in which an annular groove 26 is located around the recess 20 and this groove is in communication with the supply of pressure air through a pipe 27. An air seal 28 is provided above the central recess 29 in the reel to prevent the escape of pressure air. The pressure air supplied through the annular groove supports the reel during unwinding.

FIG. 14 is a view of a mechanism similar to that shown in FIG. 13 but the underside'of the reel carries a solid plate 30 which replaces the air seal 28.

FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment sirn'ila tjo Fl Gi. 2 but in which the upper locating center 'niechtinistrn 5h embodies an air supply 3 which IS passed througha'rotary' union 32 and centrally through the locating center 5b to' ap'assage 33 within the reel. Air supplied to the passage 33 can pass through passages around the locating center 5a to the underside of the paper reel 3 to provide the air cushion between-the table 4 and the reel 3.

By this invention we are able to provide an improved web feeding mechanism which will operate with a low tension in the web as it is fed. The register of the webs can be maintained but can be initially adjusted by alteration in the position of the turner .bar mechanism. Because the end surface of the reel acts as a friction material it can be regarded that the braking surface is renewed as each reel is changed.

Although the invention has been described with reference I also be applied to mechanism for rewinding a web. In this case the web is wound on a locating plunge mechanism similar to the plunge mechanism 5 in the drawings but in which the plunge mechanism is driven. The invention can also be applied to an unwind mechanism on a paper web collator more especially for use in collating self-manifolding papers.

What I claim is:

1. A web feeding mechanism comprising in combination, a web reel, a table supporting the web reel, means including an air supply for providing a cushion of air between the supporting table and the web reel, a movable element, means feeding the web about said movable element to move it as a function of the tension on the web, and an air supply valve controlled by the position of said movable element to control passage of air from said air supply to said table to vary the cushion of air between the table and the web reel.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the web reel contains paper business forms and including a machine for processing business forms receiving the web passed from said movable element.

3. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the web axis is vertical, including means turning the plane of the feed of the web from a vertical plane to a horizontal plane.

4. A mechanism according to claim 1, including a lever mechanism, wherein the movable element is a dancing roller mechanically coupled to the air supply valve by said lever mechanism.

5. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said table embodies an airpassage, and air nozzles are provided in the surface of said table at the. position supporting said reel.

6. A mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the nozzles comprise normally closed spring loaded valves and means opening the valves by the passage of the reel over them.

7. A mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the spring loaded valves comprise ball valves.

8. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the table embodies an annular groove to which the air is supplied under pressure.

9. A mechanism according to claim 1, including means for positioning said reel on the table.

10. A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the reel positioning mechanism includes a spindle rotatably mounted in bearings. 

1. A web feeding mechanism comprising in combination, a web reel, a table supporting the web reel, means including an air supply for providing a cushion of air between the supporting table and the web reel, a movable element, means feeding the web about said movable element to move it as a function of the tension on the web, and an air supply valve controlled by the position of said movable element to control passage of air from said air supply to said table to vary the cushion of air between the table and the web reel.
 2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the web reel contains paper business forms and including a machine for processing business forms receiving the web passed from said movable element.
 3. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the web axis is vertical, including means turning the plane of the feed of the web from a vertical plane to a horizontal plane.
 4. A mechanism according to claim 1, including a lever mechanism, wherein the movable element is a dancing roller mechanically coupled to the air supply valve by said lever mechanism.
 5. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said table embodies an air passage, and air nozzles are provided in the surface of said table at the position supporting said reel.
 6. A mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the nozzles comprise normally closed spring loaded valves and means opening the valves by the passage of the reel over them.
 7. A mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the spring loaded valves comprise ball valves.
 8. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the table embodies an annular groove to which the air is supplied under pressure.
 9. A mechanism according to claim 1, including means for positioning said reel on the table.
 10. A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the reel positioning mechanism includes a spindle rotatably mounted in bearings. 